What do You think about The Killing Man (1990)?
A floating timeline is sometimes a useful device. For instance, if one is writing a series of novels, by keeping the lead character the same age but updating the setting, the narrative will remain current. Richard Stark’s Parker, as an example, was the same strong and ruthless professional in the twenty-first century as he was in the sixties. The same thing is true with Micky Spillane’s Mike Hammer, a tough and brutal veteran, who continues as the hardest PI in New York for decades. We as readers, we as fans, except these contradictions and don’t think about them too hard. Which makes ‘The Killing Man’, where Spillane sets up the internal logic of these books like a house of cards, then swings a baseball bat at it, all the more head spinning. At the end the reader might think he’s taken a blow to the back of the head.In a way hearing Mike Hammer talk about AIDS and Ronald Reagan is as strange as reading about P.G.Wodehouse’s Uncle Fred character “doing the rock’n’roll’. It's so incongruous for this charcater, but you’re a fan and you go with it. What makes it all the more confusing, baffling and flabbergasting in ‘The Killing Man’ though, is that even though this is the 80s – with coke and computers abundant in the plot – Mike Hammer is still demonstrably a World War Two veteran. There is no fudging, no suggestion it might have been a different vaguer war he fought in (Korea? Vietnam?) No, he is still the same strong and powerful NYC detective, able to wrestle any grown man to the ground (while making gorgeous dames go weak at the knees) even in his – presumably – advancing years. As I said, the reader tries not to think about these things too hard, but sometimes the author sneaks up behind him and makes it incredibly difficult.All that being said, ‘The Killing Man’ is a vastly entertaining entry in the series. Hammer’s beloved secretary is found knocked out in his office, along with the mutilated corpse of a mobster and a note from an international hitman. Hammer being Hammer, he swears bloody revenge. There is international intrigue, a sexy as hell lawyer, an appearance by The Manchester Guardian and more fists thrown and bullets fired than at a saloon brawl in a John Wayne western. I’m not sure the whole thing holds together that well, but Hammer watchers will note that Spillane doesn’t take the path so many of these books take and the whole thing is a lot of brutal fun.
—F.R.
I am a fan of Spillane because his Mike Hammer character is consistent. He gets knots in his gut when he sees men beat on the defenseless (women, kids, etc.). He plasters on a tight, sh!t-eating grin when he's imagining knocking some delinquent in their teeth. He slowly leans on doors, listens, and crawls into rooms with his .45 drawn just in case an unseen assassin tries to take him out. These qualities don't change.The Killing Man does feature some subtle changes in the characters, though. Written 19 years since his last adventure, the timeless, ageless private investigator is a bit different. Instead of drinking Pabst and bourbons and lighting Lucky Strikes, this Hammer drinks Canadian Club and soda and has stopped smoking. For as long as I read his works, I wondered how much of himself Spillane wrote into his characters. Following that train of thought, I wonder if a two-decade-older Spillane was writing a more conservative version of Hammer.The slightly more conservative Hammer doesn't run into rooms guns blazing as often as he did in the 50's-70's novels. He's not punching cops or spending much time in the bars with his partner-in-justice Pat. He's a nurturing, patient caregiver to his damaged love, Velda. He's more dependent on his friends and even on strangers in this novel.The basics are still the same. The narrative voice doesn't change much. But those few curious alliterations to the story taking place in the 80's (references to computers, AIDS, and south american drug runners) and Hammer acting suspiciously more fragile make this a different read from the Signet paperbacks I enjoy so much. Still recommended for the die-hard fans. The characteristic dry, brutal ending won't leave anyone with a bad taste in their mouth.
—Paul
What's not to love about a classic detective novel set in foggy New York City... These books were later made into a series about Mike Hammer, the detective! I mean really, Mike Hammer! I wish my name was Mike Hammer! They could call you 'The Hammer' or something cool like that! Or, if his middle name was Caleb or Carl or something, you could have people call you M.C. or better yet, M.C. Hammer! Pretty awesome!Anyway, other than some spots with suspect language, this was a good quick read that was enjoyable! There was some killing too, which can be gruesome!
—Zac Brodrick
